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The May Department Stores Company Announces Retirement of Linda M. Ahlers From Marshall Field's and Promotions of Three Senior Executives ST. LOUIS, Sept. 28 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- The May Department Stores Company (NYSE:MAY) today announced that Linda M. Ahlers, president of Marshall Field's, will retire effective Dec. 31, 2004. The company also announced the following senior executive promotions: * Frank J. Guzzetta will become president and chief executive officer of Marshall Field's effective Jan. 1, 2005. He is currently president and chief executive officer of the Hecht's/Strawbridge's division, headquartered in Washington, D.C. As part of the management transition, Mr. Guzzetta will join Marshall Field's beginning Nov. 1, 2004. * Robert M. Soroka has been named to the new position of chairman of Marshall Field's, effective Oct. 4, 2004. He is currently chairman of the Robinsons-May division, headquartered in Los Angeles. * Robert B. (R.B.) Harrison will succeed Mr. Soroka as chairman of Robinsons-May. He is currently senior vice president and chief financial officer at Robinsons-May. "Linda Ahlers has been a terrific partner and leader during these early crucial months of Marshall Field's transition to May," said Gene S. Kahn, May's chairman and chief executive officer. "Her passion for Marshall Field's -- its heritage, merchandising, guests, and team members -- is unwavering. Her open, candid, and welcoming style has facilitated the transition of Marshall Field's into May. She will continue to actively guide the transition during the next three months." Said Ms. Ahlers, "Gene Kahn and Bill McNamara have supported me throughout the transition process and have encouraged my continued leadership. This made my decision very difficult. However, with important decisions being made at Marshall Field's, it is time to begin an orderly transition by bringing in the leadership that will carry our organization into the future." In commenting on the management promotions, Mr. Kahn also said, "We are very pleased that May's leadership bench strength provides executives with the in-depth retail knowledge, management skills, and records of accomplishment to assume these three important positions at Marshall Field's and Robinsons-May." "With their strong and varied backgrounds and extensive experience in department store merchandising, operations, and finance, Frank Guzzetta and Bob Soroka will lead a formidable team at Marshall Field's," said William P. McNamara, May's vice chairman. "This 90-day time frame will provide a strong basis for continuity. It will facilitate the ongoing transition and keep our focus on sales. We are committed to ensuring that Marshall Field's sustains its distinctive merchandise niche and builds on its recent initiatives including the State Street store repositioning." "R.B. Harrison brings 18 years of retail financial and operations experience at three May divisions to his new position at Robinsons-May. He has been a great contributor to May throughout his career," continued Mr. McNamara. Mr. Guzzetta, 59, joined Hecht's/Strawbridge's in 1988 as a divisional vice president and divisional merchandise manager. In 1990 he was promoted to senior vice president and general merchandise manager and in 1998 was named executive vice president of merchandising. Mr. Guzzetta was named president and chief executive officer of Hecht's/ Strawbridge's in 2000. Prior to joining May, he worked in retailing for 11 years at Woodward & Lothrop. A native of Quincy, Mass., Mr. Guzzetta received a B.S. degree in marketing from the University of Massachusetts and an MBA degree from the University of Michigan. Mr. Soroka, 52, joined May in 1976 at O'Neil's, May's former department store division headquartered in Akron, Ohio. From 1983 through 1990 he held increasingly responsible financial and credit positions at three additional May department store divisions. Mr. Soroka was named senior vice president and chief financial officer for Robinsons-May in 1990 and was named chairman of the division in 1996. A native of Akron, Ohio, Mr. Soroka graduated from the University of Akron in 1975 with a B.S. degree in accounting. He and his wife Connie have two children. R.B. Harrison, 41, joined May in 1986 as an analyst at the Kaufmann's division. He held numerous financial positions at Kaufmann's prior to being named senior vice president of finance for Meier & Frank in Portland, Ore., in 1998. Mr. Harrison was named senior vice president and chief financial officer for Robinsons-May in 2002. He received a B.S. degree in finance from Penn State University and an MBA from the University of Pittsburgh. A native of Pittsburgh, Mr. Harrison and his wife Susan have two children. Ms. Ahlers, 54, has been in retailing her entire career beginning with H.C. Prange Department Stores of Wisconsin. She joined Target Corporation in 1977 and held a variety of management positions prior to being named executive vice president of merchandising at Marshall Field's in 1995. Ms. Ahlers was named president of Marshall Field's in 1996. She received a bachelor's degree in retailing from the University of Wisconsin and is originally from Weyauwega, Wisc. Ms. Ahlers and her husband Stephen reside in Minneapolis. The May Department Stores Company currently operates 497 department stores under the names of Famous-Barr, Filene's, Foley's, Hecht's, Kaufmann's, Lord & Taylor, L.S. Ayres, Marshall Field's, Meier & Frank, Robinsons-May, Strawbridge's, and The Jones Store, as well as 223 David's Bridal stores, 457 After Hours Formalwear stores, and 10 Priscilla of Boston stores in its Bridal Group. May operates in 46 states, the District of Columbia, and Puerto Rico. For more information, contact Sharon Bateman at 314-342-6494. Note to Editors: To source photographs associated with this release, please see: http://www.mayco.com/common/releases/09282004release_photos.html DATASOURCE: The May Department Stores Company CONTACT: Sharon Bateman, May Department Stores Company, +1-314-342-6494

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